Comparing Photos

Having just edited some more of the contact images taken with the help of the MNHP student, it seems necessary to compare the different outcomes and measure up their different successes. The first three photos below are ones I took in October using a borrowed macro lens and with a SAD lamp in my bedroom for lighting. I also had no knowledge of photoshop at this point so the images are edited very poorly, the background is just bleached by heightening the curves so there is probably a lot of detail missing from the surface of the contact itself. The main problem I was experiencing in taking the photos was that it is impossible to get the whole lens in focus because it is curved - I hadn't heard of stacking images and didn't know whether it could just been done with a better knowledge of how to work the depth of field (is that a thing?). Although the image has many faults, it does still capture a level of detail on the parts that are in focus that I thought was extremely promising; in particular the crystal-like structures on some of the lenses. There are a few of these earlier images that I think are still worth using...for slides perhaps. However better the qality of the more recent photos, I still didn't manage to recapture these specific crystal shaped structures shown in detail below; this was a real blow and makes me want to carry on trying until I get the perfect image.

This image below is an edit of the more recent photos I took with the help of 2nd year Marine and Natural History Photographer, Max Thompson. I put a post on the facebook groups and he was one of a few to reply... I'm really glad I managed to get hold of someone and he was so helpful and knowledgeable, it was really wonderful to be able to use someone else's skills and learn about a completely new area of image making.  However I'm still a bit torn about whether lighting tot from above instead of putting on a light box was best - I'd really like to get back in contact with him and try out some different configurations in order to pick up different aspects of the surface and to reduce the reflection of the light.